Lightning benefit from exploiting cap loophole with Kucherov

Nikita Kucherov has 22 points through 13 playoff games, seven better than the next-closest player this post-season.Nikita Kucherov would have much rather gutted out the season with his Tampa Bay Lightning teammates than sit out all 56 games while recovering from hip surgery.Kucherov was that guy. The leading scorer on Tampa Bay’s 2020 Stanley Cup run didn’t play a game after he hoisted that trophy in September until mid-May, when the playoffs began.

It didn’t unfold so well for the Florida Panthers, who lost to Tampa Bay in six games in the first round, or the Carolina Hurricanes, who were ousted 4-1 in the second. “I’m not a ‘capologist,’ I’m a coach, but I can tell you that Kucherov is a tremendous player,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. “His skill set is off the charts. He’s got a lot of deception, his release. There’s so many dangerous aspects that he’s one of the superstars in the league.”New York GM Lou Lamoriello chose to echo Trotz, saying of Kucherov: “He’s a tremendous hockey player. I don’t think you need to say any more. Certainly his past and his success speaks for itself.

Quenneville’s Chicago Blackhawks did something similar with Patrick Kane in 2015, putting him on long-term injured reserve during the season and making moves at the deadline to gear up for another Cup run. Kane, like Kucherov, was back for Game 1 of the playoffs and tied for the lead in scoring on the way to Chicago’s third championship in six years.

Kucherov said it took a couple of games to get his legs under him after missing so much time. Still, his 22 points through 13 games are seven better than the next-closest player this post-season, and it looks like the 2019 NHL MVP hasn’t missed a beat.

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